Captive closure



Jan. 4, 1966 w. R. GOWDY ETAL 3,227,332

CAPTIVE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 27, 1963 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. GowoY AND BY JOSEPH AMiLENKEVlCl-l,

consumer. cracking agents being packagedQthese forces caused the "development of cracks through which product leaked- United States Patent 3,227,332 CAPTIVE CLOSURE William R. Gowdy and Joseph A. Milenkevich, Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignors to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 312,198 2 Claims. (Cl. 222--525) protruding upwardly from the top wall of the cap) eventually led to the development of a two-piece closure comprising a molded cap shell having an aperture the top wall thereof and a molded insert having a spout designed to telescope through the aperture in the cap shell and perform the function of the nipple of the onepiece closure. The two-piece closure had certain advantages over the one-piece structure. Esthetically, for example, a combination of colors could be used-one color for the cap shell and another, and contrasting; color forthe insert. With respect toperformance, the seal between the container finishand the cap was improved with the two-piece closure since the insert, the linerlike skirt of which was pressed against the end of the container finish, could be made of a softer material, thereby resulting in an improved gasketing action.

There were certain drawbacks to the two-piece structure, however, including a stress cracking problem at the junction ofthe spout and skirt of the insert and the lack of "meansfor reclosure (also a problem with onepiece closures). One of the principal factors in creating the stress cracking problem mentioned above :was ultimately determined to be extraneous forces which acted upon the spout tip when the two-piece cap was incorporated on apackage and that package stored in a warehouse, shipped, displayed and/or placed in use by the When combined with the action of stress an undesirable and costly product detect.

it is an object of the present invention to obviate the above "difliculties.

Another object of-the present invention is to provide three-piece dispensing caps of improved construction which are adapted to be tightly sealed both initiallyand for reclosure and which will not be subjected to stress cracking by reason of the application of external forces *thereto.

- rieiiy stated, in accordance with one aspect of this "inventiom-a closure is constructedtrorn three-pieces comprising a cap shell an-insert-and an overcap. The cap shell is substantially rigid,has a top wall with a centrally The resilient It is also provided on the cap shell to secure the insert to the cap shell. The overcap telescopes over .the spout and is axially movable thereon. Both overcap and the spout have cooperative sealing means designed .to coact to form a seal preventing egress from the discharge port during a finite continuous range of spout sealing positions.

- At least one of the cooperative sealing means is a substantially cylindrical wall which extends and is maintained coaxial ofthe "assembled closure in the scaling unstramed closure. Because of this arrangement ex 3,227,332 .Patented Jan. 4, 1965 range. The other of the cooperative sealing means comprises an element adapted to press tightly against the cylindrical wall along an endless path circumscribing the wall in each position of the overcap in the sealing range so as to be maintained continuously in axially slideable sealing contact entirely throughout the range. The overcap is adapted to have the lowermost surface thereof in effective contact with theouter surface of the cap shell top wall at some point within the sealing range, thus defining the lower limits thereof in the assembled traneous forces applied to the overcap are directly transmitted to the cap shell when the overcap is placed in its bottomed position.

While the specification concludes with claims .particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the'drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view in vertical'section of one form of the cap of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the insert of the closure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cap of FIGURE 1 assembled in an open position;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section of the cap of FIGURE '1 in closed position;

FIGURE'S is an exploded view in vertical section of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view of the cap of FIGURES assembled in an open position; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of. the cap of FIGURES in closed. position.

Referring to the drawings,'FIGURE 1 clearly shows the three pieces comprising one embodiment of the present invention. The cap shell 10 is quite similar to the normal form of threaded closure, having a cup-like shape with an internally threaded skirt 11 and a top wall Cap shell 10 may Insert 14is integrally molded from a resilient material, for example from a polymer such as medium density polyethylene. While the selecting of the exact material to beused willdepend upon'the nature of the product to which the insert will-be exposed, any suitable chemically resistant resilient material possessing properties permitting elastic deformation comparable, to that permitted by polyethylene would be acceptable. The lower portion of the insert 14 is in the form of a thin disclike liner 15. A h'ollow'spout 16 projects from the central portion of the liner 15, extending upwardly in a direction normal to the plane thereof. Passageway '17 passes through'the liner and-axially within the spout '16,

it terminating at discharge ports 18 located in the distal end of the spout 16.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a narrow wall 19 stretches diametrically across the distal end of passageway-17,

-therewith-forming the discharge ports 18 mentioned above. From the center of the wall 19 extends an integrally molded cylindrical plug 20 the purpose of which will hereinafter be made clear.

The exterior surfaceot the spout 16 comprises a multiplicity of surfaces of varying size and shape. At. the lower end of the spout an undercut 21 is provided which has an outside diameter approximately idcntical with the diameterof the aperture 13 in the cap shell top .wall 12.

The width of the undercut 21 is substantially the same as the thickness of the top wall 12 along the side of the aperture 13, thereby making it equal to the combined height of the top wall 12 and the raised lip 13a. Directly above the undercut 21 is a ring-like band 22 of material which is slightly greater in diameter than the undercut 21 (for example, about .006 inch larger when the undercut has a diameter of about three-eighths of an inch), thereby forming an annular shoulder 23 circumscribing the spout 16 and defining the upper limit of the undercut 21. The central neck portion 24, in the form of a cylindrical recess coaxial with the axis of the spout 16, is located above the band 22, being connected therewith by the frusto-conical wall 24a. At the top end of the central neck portion 24 the contour of the spout changes again, forming an annular wiping surface or wiper 25, also appropriately connected with the central neck portion 24 by means of a frusto-conical surface 24b. The distal end of the spout is somewhat depressed, as illustrated at 25a, and the top side of the wiper 25 is rounded to thereby form the upwardly projecting bead 25b.

The overcap 26 is substantially bell-shaped, having a depending cylindrical sidewall 27 and a top wall 28, the exterior surfaces of which merge into the outwardly flaring configuration shown at 28a. Axially oriented within the overcap 26 is a passageway 29 extending from the base of the sidewall 27 to the interior surface of the top wall 28 and in communication with a centrally located aperture 30 extending therethrough. The lowermost section of passageway 29 is in the form of a circular bore 31 having a diameter approximately equal to that of the band 22 of insert spout 16 so as to form a loose sliding fit therewith. An annular internally projecting rib 32 is located above the bore 31 and has an internal diameter which approximates that of the central neck portion 24 of the insert spout. Immediately above the rib 32 lies a recess 33 in the form of a coaxial cylindrical wall having an internal diameter about smaller than the outside diameter of the annular wiping surface 25 of the insert spout when the wiper is about one-third of an inch in diameter, whereby a tight sliding seal may be obtained therebetween. A frusto-conical surface 34 interconnects the recess 33 and the aperture 30 in the top wall 28. The aperture 30 has an inside diameter which is smaller than the outside diameter of the plug 20 by approximately 6% or so when the plug measures about one-sixth of an inch across, whereby a tight seal is obtained if the plug 20 is pressed into the aperture 30. Overcap 26 is also desirably formed by injection molding of a material such as that of which the insert 14 is constructed, preferably a medium density polyethylene material.

The portions of the closure described above are assembled as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. First, insert 14 is interlocked with the cap shell by projecting the spout 16 through the aperture 13 from the interior of the cap shell 10. The insert 14 is pressed upwardly, forcing the band 22 through the aperture so as to engage the undercut 21 within the aperture 13 sidewalls. Thus, the shoulder 23 will rest on top of the sharp edge located at the top of raised lip 13a of the cap shell, forming an interference fit therewith and preventing the withdrawal of the insert in the absence of the destruction of the material comprising the shoulder 23 and/or the raised lip 13a.

Next, the overcap 26 is telescoped over the pr0trud ing spout 16 of the interlocked cap shell 10 and insert 14. In this connection, the rib 32 is forced by elastic deformation over the annular wiping surface 25 to rest within the confines of the central neck portion 24, the wiper 25 then being in the recess 33 and the bore 31 contacting band 22. When so assembled the overcap 26 may be moved axially up and down into the open and closed positions respectively shown in FIGURES 4 3 and 4. The three pairs of coacting sliding surfaces (i.e., band 22 and bore 31, central neck portion 24 and rib 32, and wiping surface 25 and recess 33) lend stability to the sliding motion so that such motion is straight-line in nature.

In the open position illustrated in FIGURE 3, if the closure is afiixed to the finish of a squeeze bottle and the package inverted and/or squeezed the product will fiow through the passageway 17, out the discharge ports 18 thereof, through the portion of the passageway 29 above a first seal formed by wiper 25 and recess 33 and out through aperture 30 of the overcap. Regardless of the relative vertical position in which the overcap is placed in the assembled closure, whether it is located upwardly in its open position or downwardly in its closed position, this first seal is continuously maintained. In its lowermost positions, however, a second seal is obtained by the wedging of the plug 20 into the smaller aperture 30 of the overcap 26, providing a seal at the top of the passageway 29. Therefore, in the lower positions of the overcap 26 the passageway 29 is sealed on each side of the discharge ports 13 of the spout 16.

As will be noted from inspection of FIGURE 4, the lower surface 27a of the sidewall 27 is in contact with the top surface of top wall 12 of cap shell 10 in the fully closed position. It has been found essential in a threepiece structure of this type to have the overcap 26 in direct contact with the cap shell 10 at some point in the continuous sealing range existing between the insert 14 and overcap 26 wherein both first and second seals mentioned above are simultaneously effected. In order to accomplish this, the various portions of the overcap 26 and spout 16 must be dimensioned so that in the fully opened assembled closure, as shown in FIGURE 3, the distance from the tip of plug 20 to the aperture 30 is at least about of an inch smaller than the height of lower surface 27a above the cap shell top wall 12, and that this height, in turn, must be somewhat less than the distance between any portions of the overcap and spout which would cooperate to prevent downward movement of the cap relative to the spout. In the above described embodiment, the height of the lower surface 27:: above the cap shell top wall 12 must therefore be less than the distance between the rib 32 and the frusto-conical surface 24a and also less than the distance separating the bead 25b of wiper 25 and the frusto-conical surface 34. In connection with the amount by which the height of the lower surface 27a is exceeded by the latter mentioned distances, this difference must be larger than the amount of compression of the overcap 26 when subjected to extraneous forces typical of those expected in use. Thus, when the overcap 26 is pushed downwardly relative to the spout 16, the plug 20 will enter the aperture prior to any contact between surface 27a and the top wall 12, and there will be no axial interference between other portions of the telescoping part-s prior to such contact or even after such contact when the overcap is subjected to a compressive load in the axial direction. By means of this structure, there is assurance that slight variations in the dimensions of the molded parts and/or molding tolerances will not change the necessary synchronism of the sealing of the closure with the bottoming of the overcap 26 on the cap shell 10. As a result it will be recognized that any vertical force applied to the overcap 26 will be transmitted directly to the relatively rigid cap shell 10 and not affect the seals formed by means of the insert 14 or apply stresses thereto which could ultimately contribute to the development of stress cracks, fissures in the integrity of the element relied upon to seal the package.

FIGURES 5-7 illustrate a modification of the inventive concept described herein, like numerals referring to like parts throughout. In this embodiment the cap shell 10' is identical to that previously described. The insert 14' also comprises a liner 15, from which projects a spout 5. 16". A passageway 17 extends completely through the liner 15' and-spout16' in the central axialportion thereof, terminating in anopen cylindrical mouth 34. The exterior surface of the spout16 has an undercut 21-, and a central neck portion 24' similar to those described above. Intervening the two is a bead 22a having a diameter approximately .006 inch greater in diameter than the undercut 21, forming annular shoulder 23 defining the upper limit of'the undercut; Above the central neck portion 24' is a generally frusto-conically shaped surface 35, the lower end of which has alarger diameter than that of the central neck portion 24 forming a roundedshoulder 35a. The upper end of surface'QSS connects with cylindrical surface 36 which is provided with a rib 37 located approximately two-thirds of" the height of the surface 36 above the lower end thereof.

The over-cap unit38 comprises an overcap 39, retainer strap 40 and a retaining ring 41, all of which are integrally molded from a resilient materialsuch as, for example, low density polyethylene,

The. retainingring 41 hasan aperture 42 therethrough of a diameter slightly smaller than that of central neck portion 24''. The lower-partof ring 41 surrounding the aperture 42 is chamfered as at 42;: so as; to; provide clearance for the bead 22a and the raised lip 13a of theinsert and cap shell respectively when assembly proceeds as described below. e

The retainer strap 40 is preferably rectangular in crosssection and may, f or example, have a width of; approximately .100", a thickness of .05 anda length sufiicient to form a semicircular configuration between the retaining ring 41 and overcap 39in the assembled-condition.

The overcap 39 has generallyathe. same outer contour described above in connection with overcap 26. Depending from the inner surface oftheitop wall'43 of the overcap 39 is an annular cylindrical wall 44, the outer diameter of which is approximately 61% greater-than the diameter of the cylindrical mo-uth34 of insert14'; when the latter dimension is about one-sixth of an inch. The lowermost surface of the cylindrical wall 44 is tapered inward y so as to facilitate insertion of the wall 44 in the mouth 34 when. the closure is applied. The hollow interior 45 provides dimensional stability in injection molding through more uniform cooling of the cylindrical wall 44.

The balance of the interior of the overcap comprises an annular recess 46 having an inside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter ofthe rib 37 so as to form a loose sliding fit therewith, a cylindrical band 47 of about the same diameter as the surface 36 on the spout 16', and a tapered lead-in surface 48 to facilitate the application of the overcap in use.

The assembly of the three parts comprising the embodiment of FIGURES through 7 proceeds as follows. The insert 14 is interlocked with the cap shell in substantially the same manner described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 14. Then the retaining ring 41 of the overcap unit 38 is telescoped over the spout 16, being forced past the surface 35 and shoulder 35a to become interlocked with the insert 14 on the central neck portion 24' thereof. The assembly thus far described results in the structure shown in FIGURE 6. This is the condition in which the closure would be placed when used for dispensing.

In order to seal the closure, the flexible retainer strap 40 is bent into the semicircular shape shown in FIGURE 7 as the overcap 39 is telescoped in place over the spout 16'. The cylindrical wall 44 is forced within the cylindrical mouth 34, providing a tightplug-type seal. Then, as the overcap 39 is pressed further downwardly, the cylindrical band 47 is forced over the rib 37, which enters the recess 46. The slight interfering fit between rib 37 and band 47 retains the overcap in place and prevents accidental dislodgement thereof. It will be realized that the plug-type seal will be effective during a finite continuous range of all relatively positions ofthe' overcap 39 and' spout 16', so long as the wall 44 remains within the confines of the mouth 34;

Here, again, is shown a device having coacting sealing means thereon adapted-to give a tight seal within a finite continuous range of sealing positions. As pointed out above in connection with the previously described embodiment, in the lowermost position of the overcap 39 the'lower surface 27a Willbe'able to transmit force directly to the upper surface of the cap shell top wall. This is done by effective contact of the two surfaces through the medium of the material comprising the retaining ring 41' whichlies fiat on the cap shell top wall and directly contacts the surface 27a. It will also be noted that the direct contact of: these surfaces occurs at some point within the finite-continuous sealing range mentioned above. Here, in similarity with the first embodiment, the dimensions of the elements comprising the overcap 39 and the nozzle 16" must be such to prevent substantial axial interference during the continuous range of eifectiveness of the plug typeseal following the snapping of the band 46 over the rib 317 andg prior to the bottoming of the overcap on the'cap shell ltl'. Many modifications otthe above invention may be used and-itis notintended to hereby limit it to the particular embodiments shown or described. The terms used in describing. theinvention are used in their descriptive sense and not as terms oflimitation, it beingintended that all equivalents thereofbe included in the scope ofthe appended iclaims What-is claimed is:

1. A three-piece closure for a container, said closure comprising: i

(A) a substantially rigidmap shell having a top wall with an aperture therein and asidewall withmeans thereon for fastening the closure to said container;

(B) aresilient-insert placed in said cap shell,- said insert having alinerportion substantially coextensive with the interior surface of said cap shell top wall and being provided with a hollow spout extending upwardly, protruding through the aperture in the cap shell topwall, said spout having means incorporated thereon for interlocking with complementary means on said cap shell to thereby secure said liner to said cap shell, said spout having a discharge port at its distal end and an axially outwardly extending plug attached thereto;

(C) an overcap telescoped over and enclosing said spout in relatively axially slideable engagement, the overcaphaving a top wall and a depending side wall and being movable outwardly to a dispensing position and inwardly to a sealed condition, a centrally located aperture in the top wall of said overcap adapted to receive said plug and having a transverse dimension slightly smaller than that of said plug whereby said plug enters and tightly seals said aperture in any position within a finite continuous range of spout sealing positions;

(D) said overcap and spout being dimensioned so that at any point in the dispensing position the distance from the top of the plug to the aperture in the overcap is less than the height of the lowermost surface of the overcap above the cap shell top wall, which in turn is less than the distance between any other portions of the telescoped overcap and spout which would cooperate to prevent downward movement of the cap relative to the spout, whereby said overcap at some point within the said range has the lowermost surface thereof in contact with the outer surface of the cap shell top wall and at said point no substantial axial interference is present between said overcap and said spout so that external forces applied to said overcap are transmitted in substantially their entirety directly to said cap shell.

2. A three-piece closure for a container, said closure cap is less than the height of the said lowermost surcomprising: face of the overcap above the cap shell top wall, (A) a substantially rigid cap shell having a top wall which in turn is less than the distance from the wiper with an aperture therein and a sidewall with means thereon for fastening the closure to said container;

(B) a resilient insert placed in said cap shell, said insert having a liner portion substantially coextensive with the interior surface of said cap shell top wall and being provided with a hollow spout extending upwardly, protruding through the aperture in the cap shell top wall, said spout having means incorporated thereon for interlocking with complementary means on said cap shell to thereby secure said liner to said cap shell, said spout having an annular wiper circumto corresponding parts of the inner surface of said top wall of said overcap and less than the distance between any other portions of the telescoped overcap and spout which would cooperate to prevent downward movement of the cap relative to the spout, whereby said overcap at some point within the said range has the lowermost surface thereof in contact with the outer surface of the cap shell top wall and at said point no substantial axial interference is present between said overcap and said spout so that external forces applied to said overcap are transmitted in substantially their entirety directly to said cap shell.

scribing the distal end thereof, an axially outwardly extending plug attached thereto and a discharge port intermediate said plug and said wiper;

(C) an over-cap telescope over and enclosing said spout in relatively axially slideable engagement, the overcap having a top wall and a depending side wall and References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,842,674 1/1932 Jones 222521 being movable outwardly to a dispensing position 1,877,882 9/1932 Jones 222 521 and inwardly to a sealed condition, a centrally 10- 2,162,092 6/1936 Lundgren 222 52l X cated aperture in the top wall of said overcap adapted 2,677,482 5/1954 Lehmann 222 546 X to receive said plug and having a transverse dimen- 2,734,665 2/1956 Flamm X s q Sligh ly small r than that Of ald plug whereby vanko said plug enters and t ghtly seals said aperture in any 2,921,716 1/1960 Schiller 222 563 X position with n a finite continuous range of spout 3,101,878 8/1963 B66 T 222 569 X sealing positions, an axial passageway extending 3,120,910 I 2/1964 Nyden 222*525 within said overcap sidewall from the lowermost sui- 3,131,836 5/1964 Baam face thereof to the overcap top wall and in communication with said aperture, a portion of said pas- FOREIGN PATENTS sageway having a diameter slightly smaller than said 242,124 12/ 1962 Australia. wiper to provide an axially slideable sealing contact 625,196 8/1961 Canada. therebetween in the dispensing position and in the 833,270 4/1960 Great Britain. sealed condition; 519,624 3/1955 Italy.

(D) said overcap and spout being dimensioned so that at any point in the dispensing position the distance from the top of the plug to the aperture in the over- LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner. 

1. A THREE-PIECE CLOSURE FOR A CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE COMPRISING: (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID CAP SHELL HAVING A TOP WALL WITH AN APERTURE THEREIN AND A SIDEWALL WITH MEANS THEREON FOR FASTENING THE CLOSURE TO SAID CONTAINER; (B) A RESILIENT INSERT PLACED IN SAID CAP SHELL, SAID INSERT HAVING A LINER PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID CAP SHELL TOP WALL AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A HOLLOW SPOUT EXTENDING UPWARDLY, PROTRUDING THROUGH THE APERTURE IN THE CAP SHELL TOP WALL, SAID SPOUT HAVING MEANS INCORPORATED THEREON FOR INTERLOCKING WITH COMPLEMENTARY MEANS ON SAID CAP SHELL TO THEREBY SECURE SAID LINEAR TO SAID CAP SHELL, SAID SPOUT HAVING A DISCHARGE PORT AT ITS DISTAL END AND AN AXIALLY OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PLUG ATTACHED THERETO; (C) AN OVERCAP TELESCOPED OVER AND ENCLOSING SAID SPOUT IN RELATIVELY AXIALLY SLIDEABLE ENGAGEMENT, THE OVERCAP HAVING A TOP WALL AND A DISPENSING POSITION AND BEING MOVABLE OUTWARDLY TO A DISPENSING POSITION AND INWARDLY TO A SEALED CONDITION, A CENTRALLY LOCATED APERTURE IN THE TOP WALL OF SAID OVERCAP ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID PLUG AND HAVING A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION SLIGHTLY SMALLER THAN THAT OF SAID PLUG WHEREBY SAID PLUG ENTERS AND TIGHTLY SEALS SAID APERTURE IN ANY POSITION WITHIN A FINITE CONTINUOUS RANGE OF SPOUT SEALING POSITIONS; (D) SAID OVERCAP AND SPOUT BEING DIMENSIONED SO THAT AT ANY POINT IN THE DISPENSING POSITION THE DISTANCE FROM THE TOP OF THE PLUG TO THE APERTURE IN THE OVERCAP IS LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE LOWERMOST SURFACE OF THE OVERCAP ABOVE THE CAP SHELL TOP WALL, WHICH IN TURN IS LESS THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN ANY OTHER PORTIONS OF THE TELESCOPED OVERCAP AND SPOUT WHICH WOULD COOPERATE TO PREVENT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CAP RELATIVE TO THE SPOUT, WHEREBY SAID OVERCAP AT SOME POINT WITHIN THE SAID RANGE HAS THE LOWERMOST SURFACE THEREOF IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE CAP SHELL TOP WALL AND AT SAID POINT NO SUBSTANTIAL AXIAL INTERFERENCE IS PRESENT BETWEEN SAID OVERCAP AND SAID SPOUT SO THAT EXTERNAL FORCES APPLIED TO SAID OVERCAP ARE TRANSMITTED IN SUBSTANTIALLY THEIR ENTIRELY DIRECTLY TO SAID CAP SHELL. 